Baby tree kangaroo emerges at Taronga Zoo

The female joey was born in September last year, but keepers have only just begun seeing her tiny head peeking out from her mother's pouch.

Mother Qwikila arrived from Belfast Zoo in January 2013 and her successful pairing with Taronga's resident male, Parum, is a triumph for the Zoo.

Native to Papua New Guinea, Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos are classified as endangered, with numbers in the wild decreasing due to habitat loss and encroaching human activity.

Thrilled keepers have been observing the joey's daily progress, as it emerges each morning at feeding time in the lush exhibit just below Taronga's main entrance.

"Keen-eyed visitors will also be able to spot the joey when it pokes its head out of its mother's pouch during the day. Guests at the top cafe get a great view of Qwikila, as she loves hanging out high in the trees and is not shy about showing off her little one to the public," said keeper, Sam Bennett.

Taronga will shortly announce a public naming competition for the as yet unnamed joey on social media, encouraging people to get involved and learn more about this rare and fascinating species.

There are 46 Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos in the global breeding program of which only 13 are male. Global zoos are coordinating the breeding program together and each male is placed with at least two females to optimise breeding success.